WHALES & LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA TRIP NOTES

Transcription

1 WHALES & LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA TRIP NOTES Trip Code: WIY (AIY) Country: Sri Lanka Amended: November 2013 Edition No: KT Valid from: 01 Jan Dec 2014 HIGHLIGHTS 3 Whale watching excursions 6 Game drives in Yala National Park, searching for Leopard Time on the beautiful beaches SUMMARY Sri Lanka, known for its culture, beaches, highlands and tea, is less known for its wildlife. This is a tour purely concentrating on whales and the wildlife of Yala National Park, especially leopards. Many people are only just learning of the extraordinary phenomenon of the huge Blue and Sperm Whales arriving in numbers just off the south coast of Sri Lanka. A Blue Whale is the size of a couple of London buses but much more streamlined and photogenic. Seen from the sea on a privately chartered boat, it is a marine experience without parallel. This tour divides its time between these exciting navigations and Yala, several hours away, with one of the highest concentrations of leopards in the world as well as plenty of marvellously coloured birdlife. This will be an intense safari but with a bit of downtime as well, and there are few better places for this than Sri Lanka. IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU? Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely). This is not a demanding trip although there are some long drives; temperatures can be high although the mornings are likely to be cool. The hotels are very comfortable and have swimming pools. The buses are comfortable and air-conditioned, and the trip is generally relaxed and undemanding. Seeing Whales and Leopard is not an exact science and these animals do not appear on demand; however by including six game drives and three boat excursions, your chances are very high! Please note that game drives in Yala national park are a very different experience to being in Africa; geographically the area is much smaller and wildlife tourism is a relatively new thing in Sri Lanka meaning that the number of vehicles in parks and communication between vehicles is not being controlled by the authorities at this time. This sometimes results in a large number of vehicles being present whilst viewing a leopard. We will always try and make sure you see leopard, and we work with our guides and drivers to ensure this is done in a sensible and safe way, we will also try and move away from the busier areas of the park in search of other wildlife. Exodus Travels Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE Sales & Reservations: sales@exodus.co.uk

2 Day 8 (Day 9 Ex London) Whale Watching; transfer to airport hotel. Today you will have your third and final whale watching trip before returning to the hotel where you can have lunch before we transfer to Tamarind Tree Hotel near the airport. (B,D) Day 9 (Day 10 Ex London) End Colombo Airport. If you are travelling on the group flight we will transfer to the airport after breakfast for the daytime group flight to London. The arrangements for those not flying with the group ends after checkout or after the transfer to Colombo airport. (B) For those on group flights, these depart in the morning and will arrive in the UK the same day. MALDIVES EXTENSION Please call our Sales team for current prices. LAND ONLY ITINERARY The entries in bold at the end of each day indicate the meals included (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). Day 1 (Day 2 Ex London) Start Colombo Airport; transfer to start hotel. The group will meet at Colombo Airport in the early afternoon and transfer immediately to a hotel on the south coast, located approximately 225 km south of the airport. The drive will take approximately 6 hours and the group will arrive in the evening. (D) Day 2 (Day 3 Ex London) Whale Watching. After an early breakfast (or taking a packed breakfast) we leave for the harbour arriving by 0700 where we will be met by our naturalist guide for the day as well as the crew. The naturalist on board will have a wealth of knowledge about local marine life. The captain will often stop and hail a passing fishing boat on its homeward journey to see if they have information on where and which whales were spotted that morning! The vessel is fitted with radar and GPS which helps to increase chances of success. We continue out to sea and hopefully encounter the mighty giants of the sea, the Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales and several species of dolphins between 20 and 40 nautical miles from the coast. Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. (B,D) Day 3 (Day 4 Ex London) Whale Watching. Another early morning to get to the harbour for our second Whale watching trip, as well as spotting whales on a lucky day we will have the treat of observing more than five hundred dolphins having a siesta. The long-snouted spinners are a treat to watch in action. Return to hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure (or play cricket on the beach!). (B,D) Day 4 (Day 5 Ex London) drive. Transfer to Yala National Park; game After breakfast we leave for Yala National Park, a drive of approximately 2.5 hours. We will then check in at Chaya Wild where we can relax and have some lunch before our late afternoon game drive. Yala is Sri Lanka's best known National Park and is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. More than three times larger than Udawalawe at 97,800 hectares, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka's national parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has become well known for leopard. The park, which is is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and fresh water lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard per square kilometre in the world. (B,D) Days 5/6 (Days 6/7 Ex London) Game drives in Yala National Park. Morning and afternoon game drives in the park. With 6 included game drives we maximise the opportunity to spot as much wildlife as possible. (B,D) Day 7 (Day 8 Ex London) Game drive; transfer to hotel. This morning you will have your last game drive in Yala N.P. before we transfer back to a south coast hotel close to the harbour. (B,D) If you are keen to end your holiday on a very relaxed note we can arrange a visit to the Maldives for you. The flight to the Maldives, from Colombo, is around 1 hour and upon arrival you will be transferred by speedboat (approx 20 mins) to the Paradise Island 4+* resort. Paradise Island is a beautiful coral island with a total land area of 178,900 square metres, covered with lush tropical vegetation, numerous palm trees, surrounded by a wide sandy beach and the crystal clear waters of an azure lagoon. You can choose to add on as many extra nights to your trip as you wish; your time on the island will be at leisure for you to do as you wish. The accommodation used has a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, room service and all rooms are air-conditioned and have en suite facilities. As well as the modern amenities of the resort there is also access to scuba diving and snorkelling or for the less active the chance to swim in these wonderful, calm waters. Either way it is a veritable paradise and a memorable end to the trip. If you choose to take advantage of this opportunity then we can arrange flights for you to Male as well as booking the hotel and speedboat transfer to the island. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD The accommodation on this trip is of a good quality and will include time staying at the premium Chaaya Wild Yala. The hotel we use on the south coast, whilst doing the whale watching trips, is of a standard level but used for its good location. 8 breakfasts and 8 dinners are included at the hotels where you are staying. For lunch we suggest you allow 5-8 (US$8-15) per day. Unlimited bottled drinking water will be supplied every day. Single Accommodation: Single rooms are available for a supplement from 350 (or approx. US$620); this will depend on the season you are travelling. Extra Accommodation: If you require any additional accommodation either before or after the trip, we can book this for you (subject to availability). We will make every effort to book your additional accommodation in the same hotel as the trip will start/end. Payment for this must be made to Exodus or your agent, so that we can issue you with an accommodation voucher. Please note that a 5 booking fee (or equivalent) is added to the invoice. For up-to-date prices please contact the Exodus office. TRANSPORT We use an air-conditioned minibus or coach depending on the size of the party. We use jeeps in Yala National Park and for the whale watching excursions we will either use one 65 foot vessel which carries 18 passengers plus crew or 2 smaller vessels depending on the group size and availability. For smaller groups of 6 or less we may share a boat, with other non Exodus passengers, however you will still be accompanied by a naturalist. The vessels are generally well equipped with shortwave radio and GPS. 2

3 WEATHER AND SEASONALITY miss it, you must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense. Joining the group transfer is free of charge. Airport Transfers If you would like us to organise a private transfer to the start hotel please speak to your sales advisor. Please ensure that you provide us with all relevant information at least 2 weeks before departure. The cost of a taxi is likely to be around 70 (approx. US$115) should you decide to make your way independently. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company. Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons or monsoons. The SW monsoon brings rain to that area of the island between May and August. The NE monsoon takes place from October to January and only really affects the north and east coastal regions. Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day and night time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30ºC. JOINING THE TRIP IN THE UK 10 days, normally depart London Fri, return Sun Not all departures operate from Friday to Sunday so please check individual departure dates. Itinerary Start The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary. Flights from London We normally use the scheduled services of Sri Lankan Airlines (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm up-to-date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure. UK Regional Flights The Flight Inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are happy to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit for a useful overview of the options available, and contact our sales team for expert advice. If booking regional flights other than with Exodus, you must allow a minimum connecting time (in addition to the international check in time) of 1 hour at Gatwick, and 1½ hours at Heathrow; this is longer than the official minimum, but baggage handling is known to be subject to delays. We have an excellent relationship with the local operator who employ and train all leaders. We provide refresher training with a focus on Responsible Tourism, so our local leaders can educate our clients locally on helping to preserve the way of life in their area. Yala Leopard Project This a new project set up in 2010 by Paul Goldstein. The dense population of leopards in Yala has pushed young leopards outside the park's boundaries to look for new territories. As the Chena cultivations and cattle farmers live adjacent to the park's buffer zones, the predators often come into contact with villagers and their livestock with casualties on both sides. Leopards prey on young cattle corralled in flimsy wooden pens for overnight protection. There are instances where a single leopard can cause multiple kills on young calves which leads to revenge attacks by farmers. This conflict is estimated to claim up to 20 leopards around the periphery of Yala Park annually, to say nothing of the financial loss to the farmers. Exodus has pledged to raise enough funds to supply the cattle farmers with steel pens that will safeguard their cattle through the night. For further information please visit: responsible-travel/our-projects/yala-leopard-project. For full details of our Responsible Tourism Policy please visit: PRACTICAL INFORMATION Passports and Visas All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information below is primarily for UK passport holders, and other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects. JOINING THE TRIP IN COLOMBO AIRPORT 9 days, normally start Colombo Airport Sat, end Colombo Airport Sun Some departure days vary so please check individual dates Itinerary Start Your trip normally starts at Colombo Airport on the morning of Day 1 of the itinerary listed below. PLEASE NOTE that if you are not travelling on the group flights you will need to be at the airport when the group land; the group will leave Colombo Airport on Day 1 of the itinerary below and head straight to the start hotel on the south coast of the island. Group flights can be rescheduled, so you must check the group flight details 2 weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or 3

4 A visa (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is required if you are British and for most other nationalities. If you do not hold a British passport, please check the visa requirements with your local Sri Lankan Embassy or the ETA website The cost of the visa is $30 payable on registration. Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required. On whale watching trips the group will be accompanied by your leader as well as a naturalist. On game drives in Yala groups will be accompanied by one or two naturalists, as well as your leader, depending on group size. The minimum age of clients on this trip is 16 years. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian. Vaccinations and Health Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for this trip. Recommended vaccinations for this trip are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria on this trip is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited on this trip. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Insurance - are you adequately covered? You must have adequate travel insurance, and if you are joining a trip which goes to high altitude, you must check that you are covered up to the maximum altitude of the trip. If you are resident in the UK we strongly recommend Exodus travel insurance, which is specifically designed to cover all activities on your trip. If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your Post Office. This gives free medical care in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. Local Time GMT +5½ hours Electricity 220/230 volts AC, 50 Hz. There are recharging facilities at all the hotels. The electricity supply is not 100% reliable but it is usually only off for short periods of time. Group, Staff and Support The group will generally be between 7 and 18 people. There will be a local leader and drivers and local guides where needed. Our Sri Lankan team of leaders have proved very popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Sri Lankan culture than letting a local leader show you around their country. MONEY MATTERS Currency Information The national currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR), with an exchange rate of 210 to the UK and 130 to the US$. Exchange rates are correct at the time of publication. You can bring your money in cash (Sterling, Euros or US dollars) or Travellers Cheques: you will find changing cash much easier in practice. We advise you to change money on arrival at Colombo airport. The hotels will be able to change money as well but the rates will probably not be favourable. In practice you will need very little Sri Lankan currency, as most of your extra expenses will be at the hotels, where you can pay by credit card on check-out. ATM availability/credit Card Acceptance/Travellers cheques There are ATM machines in many of the main towns in Sri Lanka, but as we will be staying away from the towns, ATMs are not easy to reach, and we do not recommend relying on them. If you do want to use ATMs please inform your bank before departure that you are travelling to Sri Lanka and carry the relevant telephone number with you in case they put a block on your card. Credit cards can be used at the hotels and for more expensive purchases in the better souvenir shops. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted. The hotels will also accept credit cards. Extra Expenses and Spending Money You will need some extra money for lunches ( 5-8/US$8-13 per day) as well as soft and alcoholic drinks. Tipping (leader and local staff) Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. However tipping is a way of life in Sri Lanka and we suggest you allow about 3 (US$5) per day for this. WHAT TO TAKE Essential Equipment and Clothing Sunhat Sun cream and lip salve with sun protection Sunglasses Light cotton clothes (neutral colours) Warm sweater/fleece Torch Trainers/Walking shoes Sandels/Flip-flops Anti-bacterial hand gel Small personal first aid kit Especially when visiting temples mens and womens clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee. Women especially should always dress conservatively to avoid unwanted attention and 4

5 not to cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers, short skirts and short shorts are not recommended. Optional items: Raincoat Binoculars Swimming costume Baggage and Baggage Allowance At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage. As fuel prices, airport taxes and exchange rates fluctuate, and airlines manage their rates to match demand, it is proving harder than ever to guarantee our Flight Inclusive prices. Although we endeavour to keep our website as accurate as possible, daily fluctuations mean that our Flight Inclusive price may be out of date. For accurate prices we recommend that you contact one of our Travel Experts, or your Travel Agent. Prices and exchange rates were correct at the time of publication. The most up-to-date prices can be found on the Exodus website. Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582/FTO As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject to change, we suggest you check and/or the airline's website for the latest information prior to your departure. JOIN THE EXODUS ONLINE COMMUNITY Don't forget to visit the Community area on our website. You can view the range of Exodus videos and podcasts, read trip write-ups which have featured in the national media and take advantage of some special deals on travel gear and equipment. In the Compass Café forum you'll find the Departure Lounge where you can discuss your trip with fellow travellers before you depart. When you get back from your holiday remember to upload your images to the relevant trip page on our website. This helps other people see what our holidays are really like and you'll be entered automatically into our monthly photo competition. To make full use of the Compass Café you'll need to join My Exodus. It's free, registration is simple and easy, so what are you waiting for? IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLIENTS Exodus operates a 24 hour duty office for emergencies, which can be contacted on 0044 (0) Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure or at www. exodus.co.uk/about-exodus/essential-information? Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary. 5

6 HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP 1. Check availability Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or Secure your place You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days. 3. Complete your booking and payment When you re ready to book, go to for online booking, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque. Book with confidence: Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582 issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA - The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected. 6